IN the 18 general elections held locally since 1944 when universal adult suffrage was introduced, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) and the People’s National Party (PNP) have tasted victory nine times each.

Today, both parties will aim to break that tie as the JLP seeks an unprecedented third successive victory at the polls, while the PNP, which knows the feeling of winning three in a row — actually four — aims to end almost 10 years in the wilderness.

Both parties have nominated 63 candidates to contest all constituencies, while the Jamaica Progressive Party (JPP), United Independents’ Congress (UIC), and other independent candidates round out the 184 people who will be on the ballots today.

While Jamaicans love and cheer for an outsider, conventional political wisdom suggests that it is unlikely that any candidate from the minor parties, or the independents, will be able to pull sufficient votes to capture a constituency — making it a straight duel between the two major parties.

When Jamaicans last voted in a general election, September 3, 2020, the JLP blew away the PNP, winning 49 of the 63 seats in a shellacking from which the Dr Peter Phillips-led PNP struggled to recover.

But since then the PNP has enjoyed a revival under the leadership of Mark Golding and showed the JLP that it was back in business with a commanding performance in the 2024 Local Government Elections when it flipped at least 16 divisions which had been won by the JLP in 2016, and claimed the big prizes of control of the Kingston and St Andrew Municipal Corporation and the Portmore mayoral race.

In addition, the JLP lost 0-7 in Hanover, a constituency in which it had the two sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) following wins in the 2020 General Election.

Following what he described as an underperformance by his party in that local government election, JLP Leader Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness said it would conduct an internal assessment and make changes going into the general election.

On a high after that February 2024 performance the PNP hit the road almost immediately and has been on the campaign trail since then.

But Holness, who held the ace as to when the general election would be called, kept his party in check as he delayed putting the JLP in full campaign mode until a few months ago.

Now, both party leaders are expressing confidence that they have done enough to convince voters in 32 or more seats needed to get the right to form the next Government.

For Holness, it is a case of “performance over promise” as the JLP seeks to get Jamaicans to ‘Chose Jamaica’ and give the party a third term.

According to Holness, there is no question that his Administration has worked hard and the PNP cannot contest it on performance.

“So if you go by the logic that Jamaicans are logical people, reasonable people, and they vote on performance, then you know what the outcome is. But elections are also emotions — how people feel and what people expect to come, and even based on expectations you can’t pull your expectations out of the air, and out of promises, you have to also base your expectations on what the Government has done, what they have achieved,” Holness said following his nomination to contest the St Andrew West Central seat.

“And again, if you go by logic, and even if you pair that with your emotions, you must conclude that this Government, the Jamaica Labour Party Government, led by myself, supported by all the members and ministers, has done very well.

“You can’t compare us to perfection, you have to compare us to what other political parties have done, and what other governments have done, and if you do that comparison the Jamaica Labour Party, by all measure, by all reason, should be the next Government of Jamaica on the third of September,” added Holness.

For his part, Golding has led the PNP under the campaign slogan ‘Time Come’ with a plan to move “Jamaica from stagnation, from hopelessness… to a better quality of life for us all [and] higher levels of economic growth”.

In his parting shot at the PNP’s last mass meeting in Sam Sharpe Square, St James, on Sunday, Golding made a plea for strong support as Jamaicans go to the polls.

“Comrades, on Wednesday I ask you, [and] all the undecided voters — even the Labourites — put your X beside the head and return Jamaica to decency. Return Jamaica to be a country that the whole of the world can look on and say, ‘That’s the model Caribbean pearl!’ ” declared Golding.

“To the people of Jamaica, I pledge to you that the Government that I will lead will be one that is accountable to the people, that listens to the people, that is transparent in how we operate, and that ensures that the resources of the people are used solely for the benefit and upliftment of the people, not for friend and company, not for personal enrichment,” added Golding.

Meanwhile, in his parting shot at the JLP’s last mass meeting in Spanish Town, St Catherine, on Sunday, Holness argued that this election is a pivotal one in Jamaica’s history.

“We can decide to accept a promise or you can decide to stick with performance and delivery, that’s the choice — promise, performance. I believe the choice is clear. On the third of September, I ask you to make the choice in favour of Jamaica. I ask you to choose Jamaica, chose the Jamaica Labour Party,” declared Holness.

Just under 2.1 million people are registered to vote today in 7,294 polling stations at 2,153 locations across the island.

The polls open at 7:00 am and will close at 5:00 pm after which the preliminary counting of ballots will take place inside the polling stations.

Preliminary results should be available by 10:00 pm.

Jamaica Labour Party Leader Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness

PNP President Mark Golding

Jamaica Labour Party Leader Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness